The wage bill for education chiefs at academies running Norfolk and Waveney schools shot up by 25pc in 2018 to £17.7m, from £13.9m the year before.

The highest paid individuals at each academy alone earned £3.4m in 2018, up 15pc from £3m the previous year, according to accounts published on Companies House by the region's 32 academy trusts.

At the same time £4.4m was spent on redundancy and severance payments for staff.

Campaigners have labelled the sums "excessive", particularly as tight school budgets have seen teaching and support workers cut.

An EDP investigation in 2017 found 30pc of the 75 schools surveyed were slashing support for vulnerable children while 60pc were cutting investment in buildings and equipment.

The Department for Education said trusts paying more than £150,000 to executives would be challenged.

Former Academy Transformation Trust (ATT) chief Ian Cleland was paid £215,000 in 2017, making him the highest earning boss that year of academy trusts operating schools in our region.

He resigned in November of that year after the Education Funding Agency (EFA) found "inadequate financial management" at the Birmingham-based trust, which runs the Iceni Academy in Methwold and the Nicholas Hamond Academy in Swaffham.

He faced criticism after an investigation by the Guardian newspaper found he had used taxpayers' money to lease a Jaguar car, for first class rail travel and dinners at top restaurants.

A spokesman said the trust took governmental guidance into account when setting pay.

He added: "We are acutely aware of our responsibility to ensure we make best use of public money and in recent years have undergone processes to achieve this."

The highest earning boss in 2018 was Valerie Moore, of the Norwich-based Boudica Schools Trust, who was paid a total of £235,000 the year she left.

She stepped down in September 2018 after six years and the role was taken over provisionally by Don Evans.

Mr Evans said the trust could not comment on individual cases, but added: "All payments made to employees are subject to strict scrutiny, are fully compliant with [EFA's] academies financial handbook and are accounted for in line with the academies accounts direction."

But Scott Lyons, National Education Union (NEU) Norfolk joint district secretary, said: "After years of real-term budget cuts to school funding, it is impossible to justify this level of executive pay. "People will, understandably, be asking how any school chief executives can take home a salary nearly double the prime minister's at a time when school finances are so tight.

A spokesman said: "Leading our organisation is a hugely important role and remuneration of all senior staff, including our chief executive, takes into account the excellent job they do. It is set following a review and market benchmarking and in line with government guidance."

At Eastern Multi-Academy Trust, which runs schools in King's Lynn, Downham Market and Thetford, payments to senior figures rose from £1.14m in 2017 to £1.6m in 2018.

A spokesman said this reflected the trust taking on a new academy which increased management staff from 13 to 18.

Meanwhile, former chief executive of Transforming Education in Norfolk (TEN Group) Richard Palmer was paid £190,000 in 2017 - the second highest that year.

The Jane Austen College, in Colegate, Norwich, is run by the Inspiration Trust. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY

Trustee Andrew Barnes said: "The TEN Group's model of leadership and management has changed significantly over the last three years. Our structure no longer includes the role of TEN Group chief executive."

Labour Norwich South MP Clive Lewis said the figures were a product of years of "imposing market and business ideology on education".

"Until we end this system, and return our schools to all of us, that system will still be there to be gamed and exploited by the people at the top of it," he added.

At Creative Education Trust, pay to senior leaders, including the executive, went up year-on-year.

Dame Rachel de Souza, chief executive at the Inspiration Trust, was one of the highest earning academy bosses in 2018. Photo: Bill Smith

Management staff pay went up from £843,000 in 2017, to £935,00 in 2018 and £1.16m last year.

At the same time, chief executive Marc Jordan's salary went up from £170,000 to £180,00 and finally £190,000 over the three years.

The trust, which runs five schools in Norfolk, including Caister Academy, declined to comment.

At the Yare Trust, chief executive Ian Clayton was paid £130,000 in 2017, which increased to £140,000 in 2018 and 2019.

Norwich South MP Clive Lewis said high salaries for academy bosses is a result of education being treated as a business. Picture: ANTONY KELLY

Mr Clayton said his salary included two jobs as he was also headteacher of Thorpe St Andrew School before retiring in September 2019.

He said he had taken a pay cut and is now earning 60pc of his previous salary.

Mr Clayton said his pay was calculated based on the large number of students he and the trust were responsible for.

"The high salary is based on national pay conditions," he said. "It's not a figure plucked out of the air."

The amount paid to senior management also increased, from more than £463,000 in 2017 to £756,000 in 2019.

Mr Clayton said this reflected the trust growing with the inclusion of North Walsham Junior, Infant School and Nursery in 2018.

Government challenge executive pay

Academy trusts must follow a financial handbook issued by the government when making decisions on funding, including executive pay.

Liberal Democrats county council leader Ed Maxfield said high salaries at academies raised issues of accountability. Picture: Liberal Democrats

Academies are funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) rather than a local authority and are run by a trust, which employs staff and have trustees to govern the school.

On setting executive pay, the ESFA's handbook states decisions must be recorded, be evidence-based and reflect the individual's role and responsibilities.

Last year, the Department for Education (DfE) published further guidance, stating salaries must be "justifiable, reflect individuals' responsibilities and demonstrate value for money".

The DfE said trusts that pay a salary of more than £150,000 have been challenged.

A spokesman said: "The government is committed to curbing excessive executive pay in a tiny minority of trusts and has challenged 278 academy trusts across the country relating to their pay since 2017."

If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Eastern Daily Press. Click the link in the yellow box below for details.

This newspaper has been a central part of community life for many years, through good times and bad, serving as your advocate and trusted source of local information. Our industry is facing testing times, which is why I’m asking for your support. Every single contribution will help us continue to produce award-winning local journalism that makes a measurable difference to our community.